2024 Moldovan European Union membership referendum

{{See also|Accession of Moldova to the European Union|Moldova–European Union relations|Moldova–Russia relations}}

In March 2022, following Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine, Moldova submitted an application for EU membership.{{Cite web |title=Moldova officially applies for EU membership |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/3/moldova-officially-applies-for-eu-membership |access-date=2024-03-26 |date=2022-03-03 |website=Al Jazeera}} That June Moldova was granted the status of a candidate country by the European Council.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-23 |title=EU leaders grant Ukraine and Moldova candidate status |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-grant-ukraine-and-moldova-candidate-status/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Politico}} In December 2023, the European Council announced its decision to open accession negotiations with Moldova.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-17 |title=European Council decides to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, grants candidate status to Georgia |url=https://eufordigital.eu/european-council-decides-to-open-accession-negotiations-with-ukraine-and-moldova-grants-candidate-status-to-georgia/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=EU4Digital}} Moldova set a target date of 2030 for EU accession.{{cite web |work=romania-insider.com |first=Iulian |last=Ernst |date=22 May 2023 |title=Moldova sets 2030 as EU accession target at massive pro-EU rally in Chisinau |url=https://www.romania-insider.com/moldova-rally-eu-accession-may-2023}}

President Sandu had announced her intention to seek re-election in 2023. Sandu also announced the launch of an online platform aimed at promoting the referendum and advocating for the benefits of EU membership to the country. Observers noted she is gearing up to focus her efforts on EU integration, an area where she and her party PAS have experienced consistent success in order to be re-elected.{{Cite web |last=Solovyov |first=Vladimir |title=Moldova's Sandu Stakes Reelection on EU Integration |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2024/02/moldovas-sandu-stakes-reelection-on-eu-integration?lang=en |access-date=24 October 2024 |date=26 February 2024 |website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace}}

In March 2024, Sandu expressed her hope that the referendum would coincide with the presidential elections scheduled for the autumn. Sandu said; "It is important to hold a referendum now because it is a historic occasion, awaited for three decades. The European Union member states are more open than ever, we have the necessary political will for this step, and our citizens want to be part of the EU."

On 21 March 2024, the Parliament of Moldova endorsed a resolution of 54-to-0 to continue the efforts to join the European Union. The declaration asserted, "Only joining Europe can ensure the future of the country as a sovereign, neutral, and fully democratic state". During the vote, all opposition parties in parliament walked out.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-22 |title=Moldovan Parliament backs bid to join EU, but divisions remain |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/moldovan-parliament-backs-bid-to-join-eu-but-divisions-remain/ |website=Euractiv |agency=Reuters |access-date=24 October 2024 }} On 16 May, Parliament approved the holding of the referendum in conjunction with the presidential election on 20 October.{{Cite web |date=16 May 2024 |access-date=24 October 2024 |first=Rachel |last=Amran |title=Moldova to hold referendum on joining EU in October |url=https://kyivindependent.com/moldova-to-hold-referendum-on-joining-eu-in-october/ |website=The Kyiv Independent}}{{Cite web |date=16 May 2024 |title=Moldova To Hold Presidential Vote, EU Referendum In October |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-referendum-sandu-eu/32951121.html |website=RFE/RL |access-date=24 October 2024 }}

On 2 February 2014, the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia held two referendums on European integration. In one, 98.4% voted in favour of joining the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia, while in the second 97.2% opposed further integration with the EU. 98.9% of voters also supported the proposition that Gagauzia could declare independence if Moldova unified with Romania.{{cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/moldova-gagauz-referendum-counting/25251251.html|title= Gagauzia Voters Reject Closer EU Ties For Moldova |date=2014-02-03|access-date=2014-03-04|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}} There is concern in Gagauzia that Moldova's integration with the EU could lead to such a unification with EU member Romania, which is unpopular in the autonomous region.{{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/moldova-gagauzia-eu-referendum/25249087.html |first1=Valentina |last1=Ursu |first2=Diana |last2=Raileanu |title= Concerned About EU Integration, Moldova's Gagauz Region Holds Disputed Referendum|date=2014-02-02|access-date=2014-03-04|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}

File:Buletin de vot Referendum Republican Constituțional 2024 română.pdf-language voting ballot for the referendum. There were also ballots in Russian, Gagauz, Bulgarian, Romani and Ukrainian.]]

The text of the question put to the vote was:{{Cite web |date=2024-10-08 |title=Pliant informativ pentru alegătorii din localitățile din stânga Nistrului (RO/RU) |trans-title=Information leaflet for voters in the localities on the left bank of the Dniester (RO/RU) |url=https://a.cec.md/storage/ckfinder/files/Pliant_informativ_A4_Stanga_Nistru_07_10_2024.pdf |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Moldova |language=ro}}

{{lang|ro|Susțineți modificarea Constituției în vederea aderării Republicii Moldova la Uniunea Europeană?}}

(Do you support the amendment of the Constitution with a view to the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union?)

The options of the vote were "yes" ({{langx|ro|da}}) and "no" ({{langx|ro|nu}}).

At a meeting in Moscow on 21 April 2024, five opposition parties, namely the banned Șor Party, the Revival Party, Chance, Victorie and the Alternative Force for Saving Moldova, announced the formation of an alliance called Victory to oppose EU membership and seek closer relations with Russia. The leader of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul, also expressed support for the movement, which revolves around Șor Party leader, oligarch, and convicted fraudster and money launderer Ilan Shor. Moldovan Infrastructure Minister Andrei Spînu called the members of the coalition "traitors" and suggested that it had been formed "right next to the Kremlin".{{cite web |first=Alexander |last=Tanas |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/moldovan-opposition-announces-new-election-bloc-moscow-event-2024-04-21/ |title=Moldovan opposition announces new election bloc at Moscow event |date=21 April 2024 |access-date=22 April 2024 |work=Reuters}}

Moldovan authorities have accused Russian-trained groups of plotting to destabilise the exercise. In September 2024, incidents of vandalism on the offices of the Supreme Court of Justice of Moldova and on the public broadcaster Teleradio-Moldova were attributed to the said groups.{{Cite web |first=Olena |last=Goncharova |url=https://kyivindependent.com/moldovan-broadcasters-headquarters-targeted-in-pre-election-vandalism-spree/ |title=Moldovan broadcaster's headquarters targeted in pre-election vandalism spree |website=The Kyiv Independent |date=29 September 2024 |access-date=27 October 2024 }} In October 2024, authorities announced on social media the discovery of a plot by Ilan Shor involving vote bribery and anti-European Union propaganda, following raids on 26 locations nationwide.{{Cite news |last=Bandouil |first=Sonya |date=4 October 2024 |title=Moldova uncovers $15 million Russian-backed plot to influence upcoming elections with bribes and disinformation |url=https://kyivindependent.com/moldova-uncovers-15-million-russian-backed-plot-to-influence-upcoming-elections-with-bribes-and-disinformation/ |website=The Kyiv Independent}}{{Cite web |date=3 October 2024 |title=Moldova Uncovers 'Unprecedented' Pro-Russia Vote Rigging |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/10/03/moldova-uncovers-unprecedented-pro-russia-vote-rigging-a86567 |website=The Moscow Times |agency=AFP |access-date=27 October 2024 }} Russia denied the accusations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/10/14/kremlin-denies-meddling-in-moldovas-upcoming-election-a86678 |access-date=21 October 2024 |title=Kremlin Denies Meddling in Moldova's Elections |website=The Moscow Times |date=13 October 2024}}

Security checks were strengthened at Chișinău International Airport following an influx of passengers from Russia carrying large amounts of cash believed to be connected with the plot.{{Cite web |first=Sarah |last=Rainsford |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23kdjxxx1jo |title=Russian cash-for-votes flows into Moldova as nation heads to polls |website=BBC News |date=19 October 2024 |access-date=21 October 2024}} On the day of the referendum, the BBC reported that their producer overheard a voter asking an election monitor where she would get paid for her vote, and after being questioned by the network on the issue, she admitted to have been offered {{currency|1000|rub}} to vote for a candidate and option in the referendum which she did not want to disclose, money which she did not end up receiving.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cpv2vyelvmvo |title=BBC finds evidence of vote-buying in Moldova |work=BBC News |date=21 October 2024 |access-date=21 October 2024}}

In mid-October, Moldova accused Russia of plotting to bus in voters to polling stations at the Moldovan Embassy in Moscow. In response, the EU imposed sanctions on five people and one entity involved in the influence operation, while the United States accused Russia of spending "millions of dollars" to support its preferred parties and spreading disinformation online. The Russian foreign ministry in turn accused Moldova of printing only 10,000 ballots for 500,000 eligible Moldovans living in Russia.{{Cite web |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/10/16/moldova-says-russia-planning-to-illegally-bus-in-voters-to-moscow-polling-stations-a86716 |title=Moldova Says Russia Planning to Illegally Bus In Voters to Moscow Polling Stations |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=The Moscow Times |date=16 October 2024}}

On 17 October, Moldovan authorities announced the discovery of another plot in which 100 youths were trained in Moscow, Serbia and Bosnia by private military groups to foment civil unrest, including using nonlethal weapons to create "mass disorder" during the election and referendum, adding that four people had been arrested and that some of them received several thousand euros in payments.{{Cite web |first=Stephen |last=McGrath |url=https://apnews.com/article/moldova-election-eu-referendum-russia-639974a2d3acd8d647e787ede0fcbe24 |title=EU candidate Moldova to hold two pivotal votes as officials denounce Russian 'hybrid attacks' |website=Associated Press |date=19 October 2024}}

The European Union deployed its Cyber Rapid Response Team led by Lithuania to Moldova in order to oversee cybersecurity concerns in the election and referendum following a request from the Moldovan Information Technology and Cyber Security Service.{{Cite web |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2394398/lithuanian-led-cyber-response-team-deployed-in-moldova-during-election |title=Lithuanian-led cyber response team deployed in Moldova during election |website=LRT |date=23 October 2024}}

File:20.10.2024 Participarea Președintelui Parlamentului, Igor Grosu, la alegerile prezidențiale și la referendumului constituțional privind integrarea în Uniunea Europeană - 54079722221.jpg

Approximately 2.8 million ballots were issued for the referendum and the presidential election. For the first time in Moldova, ballots were featured not only in Romanian but also in as many as five minority languages. Thus, 2,092,641 ballots were in Romanian, 631,979 in Russian, 3,400 in Gagauz, 991 in Bulgarian, 870 in the Romani language and 115 in Ukrainian. For voters in the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria, 90,000 ballots were issued, of which 45,000 were in Romanian and the rest in Russian.{{cite news|url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-externe/republica-moldova/premiera-la-prezidentiale-si-referendumul-din-2395915.html|title=Premieră la prezidențiale și referendumul din Republica Moldova: buletine de vot în șase limbi|first=Alina|last=Cotoros|newspaper=Adevărul|date=20 October 2024|language=ro |access-date=27 October 2024 |trans-title=Presidential and referendum in Moldova: ballot papers in six languages for the first time }} Voting was held from 07:00 to 21:00.{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20241020-moldovans-vote-in-presidential-election-referendum-on-joining-eu |title=Moldovans elect president, vote on EU path as claims of Russian meddling spike |work=France 24 |date=20 October 2024 |access-date=27 October 2024 }}

For the referendum and the election, 234 polling stations were opened abroad. The first vote in both was cast by Ludmila Vizdoagă, a woman who at the time had lived in South Korea for 19 years. She traveled from Seoul to Tokyo to vote in the polling station for Japan, which was the first to be opened. A polling station was also set up in Varnița to serve voters from Transnistria. There were more than 50 polling stations in Italy, 17 in the United States, and two in Russia (both in Moscow).{{cite news |first1=Svyatoslav |last1=Khomenko |first2=Ilya |last2=Barabanov |title=Заграница спасла Санду. Что произошло на выборах и референдуме в Молдове |trans-title=The Diaspora saved Sandu. What Happened at the Elections and Referendum in Moldova |url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/articles/cdje14pp4z8o |access-date=22 October 2024 |work=BBC News Русская служба |date=21 October 2024 |language=ru}}

The referendum was boycotted by several Moldovan political figures, including Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) presidential candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo,{{cite news |url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-externe/republica-moldova/candidatul-partidului-socialist-la-presedintie-a-2395921.html |title=Candidatul Partidului Socialist la președinție a refuzat să voteze la refendumul privind aderarea la UE |trans-title=The Socialist Party's presidential candidate refused to vote on the EU membership referendum |newspaper=Adevărul |date=20 October 2024 |language=ro}} Our Party (PN) candidate Renato Usatîi{{cite news|url=https://www.euronews.ro/articole/dupa-stoianoglo-si-renato-usatii-a-refuzat-sa-voteze-la-refendumul-privind-aderar|title=După Stoianoglo, și Renato Usatîi a refuzat să voteze la refendumul privind aderarea la UE |work=Euronews România |date=20 October 2024|language=ro |access-date=27 October 2024 |trans-title=After Stoianoglo, Renato Usatii refused to vote on the EU accession referendum }} and PSRM leader and former president Igor Dodon.{{cite news|url=https://stiri.md/article/politica/igor-dodon-nu-am-votat-pentru-referendum-consider-acest-lucru-ilegal/ |trans-title=Igor Dodon: I did not vote for the referendum. I consider this illegal |title=Igor Dodon: Nu am votat pentru referendum. Consider acest lucru ilegal|newspaper=Știri.md|date=20 October 2024|language=ro}}

The Central Electoral Commission of Moldova registered the parties that took part in the referendum campaign. Of the 15 parties officially registered by 20 September, 13 were in favor of the YES option and two were in favor of the NO option. Some parties such as the PSRM or the Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova (PDCM) boycotted the referendum.{{Cite news |last=Rotari |first=Iurie |date=2024-09-25 |title=Ce partide vor face agitație în campania pentru referendumul despre aderarea R. Moldova la UE |url=https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/ce-partide-vor-face-agitatie-in-campania-pentru-referendumul-despre-aderarea-r-moldova-la-ue/33132065.html |access-date=2024-09-26 |work=Radio Europa Liberă |language=ro}}

The outcome of the referendum was described as a closer result than what opinion polls had predicted, amidst allegations of vote buying made against the side opposed to the constitutional change.

{{Referendum results

|for=749719

|against=739155

|invalid=42518

|electorate=3020814

|source=[https://a.cec.md/ro/cec-a-totalizat-rezultatele-referendumului-republican-constitutional-din-20-2781_111818.html CEC], [https://sudd.ch/event.php?lang=fr&id=md012024 sudd.ch]

}}

Analysts said ballots from the largely pro-EU diaspora were counted towards the end, giving the "yes" campaign a last-moment push. The "yes" option was selected by 45.38% of voters living in Moldova and 76.96% of Moldovan citizens living or being placed abroad.

President Sandu attributed the close result of the referendum to foreign interference and described it as an "unprecedented assault on democracy", adding that her government had evidence that 150,000 votes had been bought, with a goal by criminal entities of 300,000 votes.{{Cite web |first=Vincenzo |last=Genovese |access-date=27 October 2024 |date=21 October 2024 |title=Moldova president alleges vote-buying tainted EU referendum results |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/10/21/moldovas-president-alleges-vote-buying-tainted-eu-referendum-results |website=euronews}} The European Union also said that the two exercises had taken place "under unprecedented interference and intimidation by Russia and its proxies".{{Cite web |last1=Rainsford |first1=Sarah |last2=Gozzi |first2=Laura |date=21 October 2024 |title=Moldova says 'Yes' to pro-EU constitutional changes by tiny margin |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1wnr5qdxe7o |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=BBC News}}

Earlier in the year, an investigation conducted by the newspaper Ziarul de Gardă revealed the existence of a criminal enterprise headed by Ilan Shor, which received $15 million from the Russian government (the admissions were recorded on camera); those funds were then distributed to around 130,000 people in order to bribe voters and spread disinformation against the European Union. Russia denied the accusations.{{Cite web |date=13 October 2024 |title=Kremlin Denies Meddling in Moldova's Elections |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/10/14/kremlin-denies-meddling-in-moldovas-upcoming-election-a86678 |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=The Moscow Times}}{{Cite news |last=Vagner |first=Aleksandra |date=21 October 2024 |title=50 на 50. Как Молдова сближается с Европейским союзом |trans-title=50/50. How Moldova is getting closer to the European Union |url=https://www.svoboda.org/a/na-50-kak-moldova-sblizhaetsya-s-evropeyskim-soyuzom/33166460.html |access-date=21 October 2024 |newspaper=Радио Свобода}}

A BBC producer at a polling station in Transnistria found evidence of vote buying, with a first-hand account of a woman asking an election monitor where she could collect the cash promised to her in exchange for her vote while refusing to tell what her vote was. The election monitor Promolex also noted instances at polling stations in Russia in which voters allegedly received white jackets emblazoned with the words "Russia/Moldova" as well as invitations to restaurants and internet cards as voting benefits.{{Cite web |last=Cuckson |first=Madeleine |date=21 October 2024 |title='Wake-Up Call': Moldova Narrowly Votes for EU Accession Amid Alleged Widespread Russian Interference |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/10/21/wake-up-call-moldova-narrowly-votes-for-eu-accession-amid-alleged-widespread-russian-interference-a86758 |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=The Moscow Times}}

Four hundred Moldovan citizens were investigated for allegedly receiving money to choose the "no" option in the referendum and vote for a determined candidate in the presidential election. Those found guilty would have been fined 37,000 Moldovan lei (over {{Currency|1900|EUR}}{{Cite web |title=InforEuro, the exchange rate of the Euro currency |url=https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/procedures-guidelines-tenders/information-contractors-and-beneficiaries/exchange-rate-inforeuro_en |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=European Commission |language=en}} or {{Currency|2100|USD}}{{Cite web |title=Currency Exchange Rates Converter Tool |url=https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/currency-exchange-rates-converter/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=FiscalData.Treasury.gov |publisher=US Department of the Treasury & US Bureau of the Fiscal Service |language=en}} as of 2024), but were given the option of not receiving punishment if they cooperated with the authorities.{{cite news|url=https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/sute-de-alegatori-din-moldova-sunt-anchetati-pentru-cumpararea-voturilor-z15-milioane-de-dolari-catre-acesti-oameni.html|title=Sute de alegători din Moldova sunt anchetați pentru că și-ar fi vândut votul Moscovei. Riscă o amendă uriașă|work=Pro TV|date=23 October 2024|language=ro|access-date=27 October 2024 |trans-title=Hundreds of Moldovan voters under investigation for allegedly selling their vote to Moscow. They face a huge fine }}

The head of the Moldovan Police, Viorel Cernăuțeanu, stated on 24 October that since September, a total of $39 million, including 15 million that month and 24 million in October, had been transferred to over 138,000 people in Moldova through the Russian bank Promsvyazbank, which is banned in Moldova. He added that the number of people that had benefited from this system would be much greater as they would have received money not only for themselves but also for members of their family. This money transfer system was believed to have started in late spring, and was carried out through applications that people downloaded with instructions from interactive chatbots on Telegram. This allowed them to enter the system and benefit from transfers from the bank. Cernăuțeanu stated that Moldovan police had documented and stopped the activity of such bots in 97 Telegram groups.{{cite news|url=https://newsmaker.md/ro/transferuri-de-peste-39-mln-pentru-a-corupe-masiv-electoratul-igp-circa-138-mii-de-persoane-din-moldova-in-contact-cu-psb-bank/|title=Transferuri de până la $39 mln pentru a "corupe masiv electoratul". IGP: circa 138 mii de persoane din Moldova – în contact cu PSB Bank |trans-title=Transfers of up to $39 million to "massively corrupt the electorate". IGP: about 138 thousand people from Moldova - in contact with PSB Bank |first=Mihaela|last=Conovali|work=NewsMaker|date=24 October 2024|language=ro}}

A later national poll showed that 74.7% of respondents knew people who had received benefits, material or financial, for their vote. The poll had 1,031 respondents and was conducted by the Moldova State University's Centre of Political and Administrative Studies in partnership with the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation.{{cite news|url=https://stiri.md/article/social/sondaj-74-7-din-respondenti-cunosc-persoane-care-si-au-vandut-votul/|title=Sondaj: 74,7% din respondenți cunosc persoane care și-au vândut votul|newspaper=Știri.md|date=24 January 2025|language=ro}}{{cite news|url=https://anticoruptie.md/ro/stiri/sondaj-moldovenii-nu-au-incredere-in-partide-insa-accepta-beneficii-pentru-vot|title=Sondaj// Moldovenii nu au încredere în partide, însă acceptă beneficii pentru vot|newspaper=Anticoruptie.md|date=27 January 2025|language=ro}}

The European Union welcomed the results and condemned the alleged "unprecedented malign interference by Russia". European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the referendum result, saying that "In the face of Russia's hybrid tactics, Moldova shows that it is independent, it is strong and it wants a European future!", while the United States also noted Russian attempts to "undermine Moldova's election and its European integration".{{Cite web |last=McGrath |first=Stephen |date=21 October 2024 |title=Moldova narrowly votes to secure path toward EU membership after accusing Russia of interference |url=https://apnews.com/article/moldova-elections-eu-referendum-russia-325cb2c13beb1d76565a6e2aadef971a |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=Associated Press }} Meanwhile, the Kremlin expressed doubt on how the 'Yes' vote narrowly won and reiterated its denial of allegations of interference.{{Cite web |date=21 October 2024 |title=Kremlin Says Moldova's Election Results 'Raise Questions,' Denies Meddling Claims |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/10/21/kremlin-says-moldovas-election-results-raise-questions-denies-meddling-claims-a86757 |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=The Moscow Times}}

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe observer team said in a statement that the constitutional referendum was well-managed and contestants campaigned freely in an environment characterized by concerns of illicit foreign interference and active disinformation efforts. While this affected the integrity of the process, campaign conditions did not allow for a level playing field among contestants, as the media coverage favoured the incumbent and the government and there was misuse of public resources. OSCE stated that "the election administration worked professionally and demonstrated impartiality in their decision-making", and special co-ordinator Lucie Potůčková praised the country "for implementing a number of reforms to increase public confidence in the electoral system, in the context of heavy Russian propaganda. From implementing cybersecurity measures to ensuring a high degree of women's participation, there is much to celebrate in this election".{{Cite web |title=Moldova's election and referendum well-managed and competitive, despite serious attempts to undermine its integrity, international observers say |url=https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/578845 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe |date=21 October 2024 }}

On 6 November, the Russian foreign ministry summoned Moldovan ambassador Lilian Darius to complain about Moldova barring eight Russian election observers from entering the country to monitor the referendum and presidential elections.{{Cite web |title=Russia summons Moldova's ambassador over 'hostile' attitude to Russian election observers |url=https://kyivindependent.com/russia-summons-moldovas-ambassador-over-hostile-attitude-to-russian-election-observers/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=The Kyiv Independent |date=7 November 2024 }} On 12 November, the Moldovan government served a note to the Russian ambassador Oleg Ozerov formally complaining about Moscow's interference.{{Cite web |title=Moldova formally protests alleged Russian election meddling |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/12/moldova-formally-protests-alleged-russian-election-meddling |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Al Jazeera |date=12 November 2024 }}

Former foreign minister Nicu Popescu praised the victory of the "yes" side and said that "even a marginal victory is still a victory", in the context of the narrow result in favour of EU integration.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-21 |title=Reacție în tabara Maiei Sandu, după rezultatul pe muchie de cuţit la referendumul din Republica Moldova: 'O victorie la limită este tot o victorie' |website=HotNews.ro |url=https://hotnews.ro/reactie-in-tabara-maiei-sandu-dupa-rezultatul-pe-muchie-de-cutit-la-referendumul-din-republica-moldova-o-victorie-la-limita-este-tot-o-victorie-1817806 |trans-title=Reaction in Maiei Sandu's camp, after the close result in the referendum in Moldova: 'A narrow victory is still a victory' |access-date=2024-10-22 |language=ro}}

In a statement on 24 October, Sandu stated that, despite the instances of vote buying, she had rejected suggestions of annulling and repeating the elections as "no one has the right to deny citizens a massive, honest and free expression of their will". She further stated that, without the buying of votes, "we would have had a clear victory for both the presidential elections and the referendum", and also urged the Moldovan judiciary to "wake up" and address the issue of electoral bribery.{{cite news |url=https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/de-ce-nu-au-fost-anulate-alegerile-din-republica-moldova-in-ciuda-fraudelor-masive-explicatiile-oferite-de-maia-sandu.html |title=De ce nu au fost anulate alegerile din Republica Moldova, în ciuda fraudelor masive. Explicațiile oferite de Maia Sandu |trans-title=Why elections in Moldova were not annulled despite massive fraud. Maia Sandu explains |first=Paul |last=Tecuceanu |work=Pro TV |date=25 October 2024 |language=ro |access-date=27 October 2024 }}

• Moldova–European Union relations
• 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum

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Moldova

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Category:Referendums in Moldova

Category:Referendums related to European Union accession

Category:Events affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Category:Constitutional referendums

Category:Electoral fraud